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Still does not play like a Barca player. You must be able to hold your own in the passing game to deserve to start for this team, I'm just not seeing the vision or the skills from either Semedo or Vidal. Semedo fits less well than Vidal, though his make-up speed on defense is quite helpful...

I hope Lenglet and Alba play almost all the time the rest of the season. Vermaelen seems just a fatal fraction less quick than Lenglet, and there clearly is no one on this squad who can back up Alba. These won't be the last points dropped in La Liga. Good comeback, yet again, to salvage the...

OK, these are reasonable rotations. Over the rest of the season, we do need effective contributions from all the players in today's starting lineup. Now they need to show they can do the job against a Europa league level of team. Arthur and Alba might be needed to come in and save the day.

Most of the long-time Barca starters do not leave until after they get demoted below the gala 11. This is not close to happening yet with Rakitic. I bet it won't happen next season, either.

Much better depth than last year, we now have several reserves who play at a very high level. The problem is that not all of these rotation options that you list have shown they deserve to be trusted. The risky or suicidal rotation options, in order of scariness: Tobido Tough to throw him...

I would rotate out Alba and Busquets for this one. With Alba out, both Pique and Lenglet have to play, with Vidal in midfield, can't skimp with any other of the defenders with the weakness at LB.

Good, these should be quality games. The team has better depth this year, especially when Dembele can play again. Every starter will need to rotate, which will be quite delicate since the alternate staffing at some of the positions is much lower quality. The ones I dread are games without any...

Can either of these new CBs cover at LB?

They'll be some rotations. Just three days after such a high-energy performance, this is a time for fresh legs. Can't see how rotation is possible at forward, unless they play 4-4-2. I dread Alba's next game off.

After the performances in the Girona game, surely Arthur will start ahead of Vidal. I think Semedo will start again, too.

We'll see quite an effort from the Barca stars. They are rather competitive people, no way they want to go out to Sevilla.

Good for him, I bet he will do well in the PL the rest of this season, attract real purchase interest next summer. Barca North will buy him in June, he'll line up beside Alcacer, Gomes and Mina next season.

Navas could not play last weekend. If he is still out Wednesday, that will be very helpful. He really tortured poor Semedo, and all the other Barca defenders on that side of the field. With Alba in, Navas out, that should be a major swing in Barca's favor.

No, he's not like Gomes. Memories are short. Gomes ranged from OK to absolutely terrible. Coutinho has ranged from excellent to not good. It does hurt to see Coutinho not play well, since he has the raw ability to sometimes be man of the match.

Improved from the Sevilla game. That's not saying he's playing well. If he just plays OK, that should be good enough until Dembele comes back.

Quite a few excellent scoring chances created. Coutinho and Suarez blew their shots. No one really stunk, Semedo and Arthur continue to improve.

Still young enough, I hope. He has backup now, but the team's hopes for the rest of this season still depend on Suarez playing a whole lot. After Messi, the essential players are Suarez, Busquets, Rakitic and Alba. Dembele, too, is becoming more and more vital.

It's pretty clear by now that whether Semedo or Roberto are at RB, this position is not a strength for the team this season. Roberto certainly had one of his worser games against Sevilla. The team has plenty of oomph elsewhere, RB just has to be adequate. These two sure help me appreciate the...

Do or die with Coutinho. He'll do a lot better playing alongside Messi and Suarez, right?

Well, if the bench never plays, they get too rusty. Also, Valverde needs to see them in action, so he can have an accurate, current understanding of how they play. We continue to see that the two most important players, by far, are Messi and Suarez. Without them, Barca might be mid-table in...